Enter the HDR-SR series.  I won’t cover the specs – cause it’s been done…but this verson is a 120 Gig internal hard drive.  This new camera had everything I was intrested in except, a 20x optical zoom and HDV versus AVCHD.  The 20x just isn’t happening.  I believe due to the sensor size and format, it’s just too expensive to produce this – for now.   Nevertheless, the 12x smaller Carl Zeiss lense is very good.

Waiting for HDV was ignorance on my part.  I’m stunned how good AVCHD format looks.  My first playback straight out of the camera (not compressed to DVD), left me speechless.  And AVCHD’s storage capabaility is remarkable.  I’ve been using the camcorder for personal footage for nearly six months.  While I’ve downloaded everything, I’ve not erased anything from the camera’s internal hard drive.  And it still has nearly 10 hours of recording capacity left.  Seriously, this camera will pay for itself inside of two years through saved tape cost.  Given this, I think the AVCHD format is more than capable for consumer and semi-pro use.  It seems as though more and more apps are becoming compatible with it as well.  There is something about the concept of compression (and throwing away data) that offends the pro in me.   But AVCHD does a nice job.  Afterall MP3 sounds good at 190kbps and above.

If you have an Intel Mac, Final Cut Pro 6 can read the files straight off the camera.  It must convert to ProRes to edit.   You CAN use the motion picture browser that comes with it for maintaining the oringal files.  This is windows only – I run mine through a virtural Vista instance (Parallels Windows for the MAC).  This software allows for quick burn to DVD and the facial recognition feature. 

ONE-BUTTON DVD BURN
This is cool concept, but the conversion from AVCHD to DVD (which requires MPG2 format) is less than speedy.  Easy, yes!  Quick, no!  A typical DVD might take 1 to 2 hours to convert and burn.

FACIAL RECOGITION INDEXING
This feature was an unexpected suprise.  When this is turned on, the camera idenifies faces while shooting.  It then provides a list of faces as indexes for each clip.  While you are viewing it in browser mode, you can browse through faces, not just locations or dates.  At first glance, this seemed to be somewhat silly.  But it works well and is actually quite useful.

10 MEGA-PIXEL STILLS
Keep in mind, I love my Canon 40D.  Seriously, I love SLRs, high dollar lenses, and controlling depth of field.  I’m very excited about Canon’s new 5DmarkII - which shoots video in HD format.  With that said, having a quality camera built into a camcorder, is extremly convient and sound idea as well.  I would suspect for the non-discriminating photographer, this camera is more than enough. And even for the more discriminating, the ability to grab a still while shooting (even if the quality isn’t pro) is very cool…and inviting.

LOW LIGHT
Two steps forward, one step backward!  This might be Sony’s worst low-light performer in years.  It doesn’t get a failing grade here, just a low one.  Don’t expect to shoot stunning footage in a dimily lit room or outdoors at night.  It does have the “night vision” mode – but I’m referring to color shooting.

CONCLUSION
I would highly recommend this camcorder for personal use to anyone, even pros.  And given the smaller hard drive versions are farily cheap…the savings realized from not having to purchase blank tapes allows anyone to shoot in High Def for little expense.  Do it.  Seriously, explain to your wife how much savings you’ll realize, and do it!

The mighty-mighty Titans were…well…mighty-mighty. I’m not talking about the score. I’m referring to their physical strength. We just weren’t strong enough (or probably tough enough) to beat them. Both sides of the Titans lines were using their arm strength to control the shoulders of the Chiefs. And as the song goes, ‘dem bones is connected.

This is why players must keep their feet moving. Once a player’s upper body is turned, his hips will follow. And if a player has his feet planted when this happens – game over! Thanks for playing. Better luck next time! Allowing someone else to direct where one’s body goes is in direct opposition to the goal of a lineman – defense or offense.

But there are lessons to be learned from this loss.

Offense
After reviewing the offensive plays, you can spread the blame around pretty good. However, the likely truth is the Titan defense was just too strong and fast for most of our offense. But there are still a few stand-out issues. Sorry to harp on this some more…but Adrian Jones and Damion McIntosh are still not getting it done. I thought there was improvement when Herb Taylor was in at Right Tackle. But this needs a solution. Jones needs to start battling up-close – not trying to punch and shove at an arm’s length (see “how to help the defense below). McIntosh needs to lose 10-15 pounds. The weight does him no good, if he can’t get it there.

Defense
It is absurd to think a blind man could play this game despite his physical prowess. You cannot stop…what you cannot see. What good is it for 3 men to be 6-10 yards deep in the back field, when the ball carrier has already gotten back to the line of scrimmage?

(stand on soap box now)

Just as an offensive lineman has to get up and under the shoulder pads of the defense, the defense has to keep his arms locked-out – denying the offensive linemen control. Furthermore, keeping the offensive linemen at an arm’s length, allows him to see around the o-linemen, and thus to keep site of the ball carrier. Otherwise, it’s a total eclipse of the helmet. COME ON NOW…BASIC FOOTBALL! You can’t tackle what you can’t see!!!

Did someone say tackle? Bernard Pollard had several good wraps Sunday. Unfortunately, he had even more where he just threw his shoulder towards the effort. And Pat Thomas is over pursuing and getting trapped. Both guys are committing to uncertainty. Thomas to a spot he thinks the runner is going. And Pollard to a trajectory he believes will allow his shoulders to intercept the breast of the runner.

See the ball! Pursue the Ball. Breakdown and Tackle.
See the ball! Pursue the Ball. Breakdown and Tackle.

In my opinion, this team was better than us. They were stronger, tougher, as fast, and more polished. This game was a loss. And although a 17-13 loss would have felt better, we would still be 1-5. I just hope we are learning lessons.

Changes
QB Quinn Gray (no, you shouldn’t recongnize that name) may be coming to town soon. We have a punter from New Orleans, Steve Weatherford to fill in for the injured Dustin Colquit. Them’ are some big shoes to fill. Conner Barth returns for a second (or should I say fourth) chance at kicking as Novac is released – those shoes, not so big!

Brett Farve
I really wish we didn’t have to play #4 again. Last year’s game against Green Bay started a spiral we’re still stuck in. If he throws that deep post over us again, I’m going to puke….

I think what makes this so disappointing is the loss of momentum and confidence gained from the Denver victory.  Had the Chiefs just lost a tough fought battle to the Panthers on Sunday, our record would be identical to what it is now.  However, mentally it is a completely different place!

Regardless, I’ve been preaching you can’t know until you review film…so here it is.  I reviewed the first 10 offensive plays.  Let’s face it.  Defense doesn’t matter for this game – because you can’t win if you don’t score!!  Here is the first series:

1. 1st and 10 from the 18 – Jones  flinches.  (False start -5 yards)
2. 1st and 15 from the 13 – Jones doesn’t punch down enough on the DL for Niswanger to seal an angle.  McIntosh plants his feat and loses his block on the DE.   Hole closes and 27 falls over backwards when he runs into it.  Johnson misses the cut-back.  (-2 yards)
3. 2nd and 17 from the 11 – Jones is so slow off the ball that the DL runs straight through the A gap and sacks Huard (for those non x’s & o’s…that’s the worst place to leave open…as it is the closest most direct path to the backfield).   Huard doesn’t fumble… Johnson recovers.  (loss of 8 yards)
4. 3rd and 25 from the 3 – Screen pass under the goal post.  Jamaal doesn’t do much to slow down the DE, but it is a screen pass.  Huard waits to long looking left and by the time he turns to throw the screen the DE is there to knock it down.
   The second series is not much better, but the same 4 players struggle all day.

Adrian Jones
In general Jones is not quick enough.  In situations where he progresses from a chip block to the linebacker, he just can’t get there to seal the linebacker.  And because he can’t get to the linebacker quickly, he is unable to spend enough time chipping or punching down coming off the line.  This extra half second of double team is what it takes to get a defensive linemen turned and sealed.
 
Damion McIntosh
Slow feet.  Slow feet.  Slow feet.  Slow feet.  No feet!!!   Whenever a linemen stops moving his feat…he’s done!   Damion is too slow to get up and turned in.  Then when the DE starts to move left or right, he just leans with him until he slides off….and WHOOP!   Slow feet!
 
Damon Huard
Beside the obvious freight, I noticed a few mechanical items with Damon.  First he carrys the ball low.  This requires a lot of time to bring the ball up and throw it.  Furthermore, he pats the ball just before doing this.  These two habits combine to around ¾ of a second.  And that is enough time for the defense to react.  Three of the Panthers front four were 6’4” or better.  But I question if this wasn’t a factor in the batted passes all day.
 
LARRY JOHNSON
Despite Larry’s previous stats, he isn’t running well in my opinion.  He isn’t making good reads.  He isn’t running efficient routes.  He isn’t selling the fake.  And he isn’t sure footed!  Several times including the first play of the game (second after the penalty), the cut-back is open.  He just missed it.   And this offense requires he make reads. 

I also think he is taking some wasted extra steps, either bending routes or shifting left and right.  This is drawing the linebackers straight into the gaps.  It also makes it difficult for the offensive linemen to set their blocks as they can’t tell where Larry is going.  Good running backs excel at setting their blocks and making clean – sharp cuts around them.  Larry isn’t doing that right now.

And it is almost eerie how easily this 230lb running back comes down.  He often gets one foot swept out and he falls forward.  Or he runs into a pile and falls backwards or sideways.  Michael Turner is only 10lbs heavier, but he would not come down.  Barry Sanders was 30lbs lighter, and he would not come down.  2 yards rushing?  As our Director of Master Control Eric Townsend said, “that’s not rushing, that’s falling forward!”

WHAT NEXT
Having to play Tennessee next feels like starting the season in NE all over again.  I do know this.  What veterans are left (a.k.a TG!!!!!) need to stop worring about being on a great team…and start making THIS team great.  The veteran playmakers have to become stronger leaders.  The have to show these young men how to WIN in the NFL.

Typically 446 net yards is more than 1 touchdown.  One Touchdown!  Major kudos to Gun and the defense for playing the donkeys so tough.  And on the other side, the offense and special teams scored 43% more on Denver than the average of Denver’s first three games.  Giveaway-Takeaway stills means something, and this game proved it.

I really like seeing the passion that Cox, Cottam, Carr, Flowers, Dorsey, Johnston, Charles, Patterson, Taylor, and even DJ played with on Sunday.  Not that it will be easy…but it would be incredible to head into the bye 2-3.

Chiefs Lose 15-22.
Alright…I know…hate is a strong word. And there IS value in the lessons of pre-season. So let’s look at just a few statistical averages. (Always play the averages. Even if you hate…uh…don’t like it!)

First 4 interesting stats:

1. Despite the 2-2 record, the Chiefs lose the scoring average of 15-22.
2. Tied for 29th for Field Goals. Chiefs are averaging 269 yards a game and only 1 FG.
3. Chiefs are averaging 1.75 touchdowns per game.
4. Passing Defense is ranked 6th – while run defense is ranked 24th.

The lessons I take from these stats:

1. The 3 pointers need to double or even triple – if you’re playing averages! With 269 yards average and only 1.75 TD average per game. We must achieve more for our 269 yards – field goals. We need an average of 3-7 points more a game. We NEED a kicker.
2. The front 7…must stop the run – 24th won’t cut it. Even with two FG (6 points) more offense, we lose the average game 21-22. The defense has to prevent 3-7 points.
3. Chiefs also averaged 31:14 in time of possession (ranked 8th overall). Another minute would help all of this. 17-16 will work, but 17-14 would be better.

Some Individual stats:

The leading rusher for pre-season was Kolby Smith with 14 carries for 85 yards. That’s a 6.1 yard average. Battle is 5.6 for the preseason. Both almost double that of LJ. Brodie finshed with a QB rating of 65.6. Huard’s was 97.4. (I seriously hope Jack Harry doesn’t notice that. What am I saying?)

THE TURK COMETH! …AGAIN!
No real surprises in the cut downs other than both Sams and Savage made the 53. Off the waiver wire came guard Brian De La Puento (SF49) and LB Erik Walden (Dallas).

ESPN Sunday Madness
Congratulations to the Rockhurst Hawklets who were fairly convincing in their Network TV victory over the Blue Springs South Jaguars. My son is a Jag. I thought typing that out might be cathartic. It wasn’t.